Town of Warwick
Selectboard
July 8, 2013
Minutes
Members present: Dawn Magi, Patricia Lemon, Nick Arguimbau
Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa
Fratangelo Calcari, Board of Health and Moore's Pond Beach Committee
member Kathy Connelly, Moore's Pond Beach Committee member Matthew
Connelly, Gloria Varno, Barbara Noel, Fran Prohaska, Police Chief David
Shoemaker, Conservation Commission Chair Karro Frost (arrived at 6:21
pm), Jon Calcari, Paula Lundgren Robinson (Athol Daily News)
I. Call to Order
Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Town Hall.
Public Comment
Magi gave a belated thank you to the Women's Guild for their High Tea on
June 23rd. She said that the event was perfect and noted the Guild
members' excellent work, especially Nancy Kilhart.
Minutes
Lemon MOVED to accept the minutes of June 24, 2013 as printed. Arguimbau
SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0.
IV. Presentations and Discussions
1. Canada Geese Control on Moore's Pond --Young said that last meeting
Matthew Connelly had offered to go house to house picking up goose
droppings, but he felt that he may not be welcome to do so. Young said
that he checked with three neighbors, all of who said that they would
rather not have someone on their property. However, Connelly cleans the
beach at Moore's Pond daily.
Jon Calcari reported that Al Metzger is willing to take care of the
problem once hunting season starts.
Matthew Connelly said that to legally hunt, you must be more than
500 feet from the road or any houses. The hunting season for Canada
geese is some time in September; no one was sure of the exact dates.
Connelly also said that on July 2nd the geese were captured, banded and
released as part of a Massachusetts migratory bird study. He said the
adults and the fledglings were all banded so that their migrations can
be tracked each year.
Young said that several passive deterrents can be used on the geese.
He listed tall grasses at the water's edge, and fencing, and noted that
nothing will deter geese once their young have hatched. He explained
that the option of introducing swans to the pond is not recommended by
several naturalists with whom he had contact. The trumpeter swan is not
native east of Indiana, while the Mute swan is not native and is
considered to be invasive. He noted that a license is required to have
and keep captive swans, and their introduction could be destructive of
native species. Young reiterated that Federal and State licenses are
required to interfere with Canada geese as well as to harbor non-native
migratory birds.
Gloria Varno said that there was an article in the paper about the
beach at Lake Mattawa in Orange being closed to swimming due to high
e-coli count in the water. She said that the beach has been closed since
July 3rd, and that Roger mallet of the Orange Board of Health was quoted
as saying that the presence of Canada geese could be part of the cause
for the high bacteria levels in the water.
Both Kathy and Matthew Connelly pointed out that the water at
Moore's Pond has tested very well, with a 2 each of the last two weeks.
Acceptable levels are anything below 230. M. Connelly noted that the
water is tested right next to his house, on the beach where the geese
congregate. Young said that the levels have been very low despite high
rainfall, which usually results in higher numbers. Lemon said that
planting cattails along the water's edge could further clean the water.
Varno mentioned all the goose droppings on the docks, cement, driveways
and lawns of the properties around the pond.
Magi said that she had called the Athol Board of Health and was
waiting to hear back from them. She explained that she contacted them to
gather information on how the goose problem was solved at Lake Ellis.
Young again listed things to do to deter geese: never feed the
geese, plant tall grass, put up fencing, or place mesh or grates in the
water. Barbara Noel said that these geese are very smart, and have
circumvented the Bellemare's fence. Ms. Noel specifically fears a slip
and fall due to the slippery goose droppings. Young reminded everyone
that both Federal and State permits are required to addle or oil goose
eggs, or to move the geese. M. Connelly said that any harassment of
wildlife outside of hunting season requires a permit. K. Connelly said
that the geese are getting their flight feathers now, and will leave
once the molting is over. She noted that it is still relatively early,
but by mid-to-late July they should be able to fly.
Young encouraged the formation of a neighborhood association, as the
problems are on private property.
Conservation Commission Chair Karro Frost arrived at 6:21 pm. She
said that she was using information from Mass. Wildlife as the starting
point. Frost went over several recommendations. First and foremost, do
not feed the geese; she noted that there is no state law prohibiting
this, but it is a good practice in general never to feed wildlife.
Secondly, put out flags, aluminum pie plates, a scarecrow, or a stuffed
animal that looks like a dog. Thirdly, try using dogs to chase the geese
away. The next suggestion was to employ swan decoys, but they must be
moved around to make them appear to be alive and moving on their own.
Flapping a large tablecloth or other item at the geese to make yourself
appear large and threatening was also suggested. The issue of creating a
physical barrier such as fencing, chicken wire, shrubs, un-mowed lawn
and weeds or tall grasses that these Canada geese will be unwilling to
pass through was discussed, because making the favored food source, lawn
grass, inaccessible to geese will deter them from the area.
Young noted that the young geese are close to the fledgling stage,
so these actions would be best used next year. Noel said that all of
these things have already been tried, but the geese are so smart that
they are not deterred.
Frost said that the person to contact is Ralph Taylor in
Belchertown. She said that she would contact him tomorrow morning to
follow up with him and see what else he recommends be done. Young will
serve as the contact person for the Town. Magi said that she will follow
up with the Board of health in Athol. Reports would be given at the next
meeting.
Both Kathy and Matthew Connelly said that despite specific signage
on the beach, people still feed the geese. Arguimbau suggested closing
the beach at Moore's Pond until the geese are once again able to fly,
because this would prevent people from feeding them. Young said that
since the geese are already there, this would be an over reaction, and
would punish everyone for the actions of a few.
2. Request for Nuisance Dog Hearing --Bertrand Ballou of 707 Orange
Road had submitted a written request for a nuisance dog hearing against
the dog "Hemi" belonging to his neighbor Sherry Tatro.
Lemon MOVED the Warwick Selectboard hold a nuisance dog hearing on
Monday, July 22, 2013 at 6:30 pm to hear complaints and answers to
complaints against Sharon Tatro, 677 Orange Road Warwick, MA. Motion
CARRIED 3-0-0.
3. Authorization to Execute Application for Net Metering with the
Commonwealth --Young said that he had successfully submitted an
application on behalf of the Town for the Seaboard Solar projects. He
requested an authorization by Selectboard vote for the file.
Lemon MOVED the Selectboard authorize J. David Young as Administrative
Coordinator to sign the Town's net metering application for the Seaboard
Solar project to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on behalf of the
Selectboard and the Town. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0.
4. Provisional Broadband Hires--Young explained that because Ray
Lemek wanted to scale back on his broadband duties, the Broadband
installer position was posted and advertised. Young sought Selectboard
approval for two new hires. He explained that, per the Town's personnel
policy, these hires would be probationary for the first six months.
Young said that Bradford is a new resident with IT and carpentry
experience, and Robichaud has radio frequency experience. Bradford will
work with Kevin Cooke on the legacy Canopy 100 installations, while
Robichaud will be used on the new Wimax and the soon to be deployed TV
Whitespace radio layers.
Arguimbau MOVED to approve the hiring of John Bradford and Craig
Robichaud as Broadband installers. Lemon SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0.
5. Selectboard Reports--There were no reports.
6. Coordinator Report--Arguimbau asked what the difference was
between "Canada" geese and "Canadian" geese. Young replied that the
proper name for the species is Canada geese.
V. Adjournment
At 6:45 pm, Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Arguimbau SECONDED.
Motion CARRIED 3-0-0.
Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari